October 7, 2009 4:47 PM
- Text
Unplugged: Autism Rates and Factory Farming
Two hot but somewhat under-the-radar topics were featured on "Washington Unplugged" Wednesday.
The first was autism, and, specifically, the debate over the link between autism rates and childhood vaccinations. Guest David Kirby, a journalist and the author of "Evidence Of Harm" and "Animal Factory," told moderator Sharyl Attkisson that it is "astounding," "shocking" and "scandalous" that there is not more of an outcry over statistics that show one in 100 children – and one in 60 boys – will develop an autism spectrum disorder.
The other topic was factory farming. Guest Laura Rogers, Project Director of the Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming, discussed overuse of antibiotics on industrial farms.
"Most consumers don't realize that upwards of 70 percent of all antibiotics used in this country are fed, in low doses, to food animals," she said. "And what this does is it creates the perfect situation for antibiotic resistant bacteria to grow and spread into the environment, and it reaches us through our food supply."
Watch the entire episode, which also includes a new installment of "Unplugged Under 40," above.
"Washington Unplugged" appears live on CBSNews.com each weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to check out previous episodes.
The first was autism, and, specifically, the debate over the link between autism rates and childhood vaccinations. Guest David Kirby, a journalist and the author of "Evidence Of Harm" and "Animal Factory," told moderator Sharyl Attkisson that it is "astounding," "shocking" and "scandalous" that there is not more of an outcry over statistics that show one in 100 children – and one in 60 boys – will develop an autism spectrum disorder.
The other topic was factory farming. Guest Laura Rogers, Project Director of the Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming, discussed overuse of antibiotics on industrial farms.
"Most consumers don't realize that upwards of 70 percent of all antibiotics used in this country are fed, in low doses, to food animals," she said. "And what this does is it creates the perfect situation for antibiotic resistant bacteria to grow and spread into the environment, and it reaches us through our food supply."
Watch the entire episode, which also includes a new installment of "Unplugged Under 40," above.
"Washington Unplugged" appears live on CBSNews.com each weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to check out previous episodes.
-
Brian Montopoli Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »
Popular Now in Politics
- Archbishop Dolan urges Obama to back down on birth control
- Santorum sweeps Missouri, Minnesota, Colorado
- After Tues. sweep, Santorum seeks to gain speed
- STOCK Act passes in House
- Fallon vs. Obama in fitness challenge
- Contraception issue heats up as Santorum gains
- Congressional approval hits another all-time low
- Former Giffords aide to run for her House seat
- What Does 'GOP' Stand For?
- Dems fight back in contraceptive battle
- Rick Santorum finally gets his moment
- Obama leads Romney in Virginia poll
- No more Mr. Nice Guy for Santorum
- Mitt Romney glitter bombed, calls it confetti
- Santorum: I'm the consistent social conservative
- Callista Gingrich: The quiet wife
- White House under pressure over contraception
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook
on CBS News
- Sinking
- Rep. Bachus faces insider-trading investigation
- Singapore DBS bank profit jumps 7.8 percent in 4Q
- Owner of Sierra mine surrenders to face charges
on Facebook
- Adele opens up about vocal cord surgery
- Tenn. father charged with murdering couple who"unfriended" daughter on Facebook
- Mo. teen gets life in prison for murder of 9-year-old girl
on CBS News
